Selective air discharge pattern slot diffusers



y 1965 E. F. AVERILL ETAL 3,183,821

SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSERS .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 9, 1963 F I G. 2

INVENTORS: EUGENE F. AVERILL HAROLD E. STRAUB y 18, 1965 E. F. AVERILLETAL 3,183,821

SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSEBS Filed April 9, 1963 .2Sheets-Sheet 2 I ll J15 6O 4 H .Av 58-I l 4 p 1.

INVENTORS: EUGENE F. AVERILL HAROLD E. STRAUB United States Patent3,183,821 SELECTIVE AIR DISCHARGE PATTERN SLOT DIFFUSERS Eugene F.Averill, Waterloo, and Harold E. Straub, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignors toTitus Manufacturing Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of IowaFiled Apr. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 271,729 3 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) Thisinvention, in general, relates to air distribution devices. Moreparticularly, the invention pertains to air diffusers in which the airis discharged through one or more elongated slots.

Diffusers are the terminal units of air distribution systems, i.e., thedevices through which air distributed by an air distribution system of abuilding or the like is discharged into a room. These diffusers areconnected with the building ductwork. Slot diffusers, like mostdiffusers, are usually mounted flush in the ceiling of a room althoughthey may also be mounted in a wall or walls of a room.

This invention relates to slot diffusers and to improvements instructures for selectively adjusting the air discharge pattern of slotdiffusers. The diffusers of the invention are capableof providingselectively a plurality of air discharge patterns, i.e., a two-wayhorizontal pattern, a one-way horizontal pattern, or a vertical pattern.

The best air discharge pattern for a diffuser in a ceiling depends uponseveral factors. When the air supplied to the diffuser is warm air, thebest air discharge pattern usually is, a vertical pattern, i.e., one inwhich the diffuser air discharge stream is directly outwardly at rightangles to the face of the diffuser and the ceiling in which it ismounted. Warm air, being lighter or less dense than colder air, is bestdirected into the room at right angles to the ceiling to'mix it with thecooler air in the lower areas of the room to warm the latter.

On the other hand, when the air supplied through the diffuser is coolair, the best air discharge pattern usually is a horizontalpattern,.i.e., one in which the air'stream or streams are directedlaterally outwardly from the diffuser substantially parallel with theface of the diffuser and the ceiling. The greater density of cool aircauses it to fall or descend into a body of warmer air. This makes thehorizontal pattern the most desirable because the cool air can be spreadacross the ceiling or a portion thereof. It falls as its velocity dropsand ultimately mixes with and cools the warmer air in the lower areas ofthe room. If a vertical pattern were used with a cool air dischargestream, drafts causing discomfort to occupants of the room may result.Also, the horizontal pattern provides a more even distribution of thecooling air throughout the room and thereby keeps the room temperaturemore uniform throughout.

Selective, variable discharge pattern slot diffusers are provided, inaccordance with the invention, by elongated, spaced, side walls definingtherebetween one or more air flow channels. These channel(s) have attheir downstream side opposing, inwardly directed lips defining anelongated slot and are employed to deflect air directed thereagainstlaterally as it flows through the elongated, air discharge slot orslots. By providing a movable damper member or air pattern controller ineach channel to direct air flow through one-half, the other half, orboth halves of the channels, a variety of air discharge patterns can beselected.

of the elongated lips at the downstream end of the channels whereby thelatter lip deflects the air stream into a lateral or outward airdischarge stream, an-air discharge pattern often referred to as ahorizontal pattern. When the air pattern controller is in a neutral ornonblocking position, the air flows through both halves or sides of theair channels with the result that the discharge air pattern is avertical pattern.

The principles and concepts of the generic invention are furtherdescribed and illustrated in the preferred embodiments of the inventionwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a double slot diffuser of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on section 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a broken, perspective view of the air pattern controller usedin the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the upper fragment of a diffuser of theinvention with a duct mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 4 with another type of ductmounted thereon; 7

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view like that of FIG. 2, but showing theair pattern controllers in position to provide a two-Way, horizontal orlateral air discharge pattern;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional View, similar to the sectionalview of FIG. 2, of anotherembodimen-t of a double slot diffuser of theinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a tranverse cross-section of a single slot diffuser of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a double slotdiffuser 1 having in the face thereof a pair of substantially parallel,elongated air discharge slots 2, 3. The diffuser 1 comprises threeelongated spaced sections 4, 5 and 6, which are extruded members havingthe transverse cross-section shown in FIG. 2. Sections 4 and 5 may beidentical extrusions, one being in assembly of the diffuser the mirrorimage of the other. The section 4, 5 comprise a longitudinal wall 7comprising a straight wall segment 8 at the upstream side of thediffuser, a circularly curved wall segment 9 depending therefrom, and anoutwardly-directed flange 10' at the downstream edge of the curved wallsegment 9. The flanges extend laterally outwardly along each edge of thediffuser, and the outermost edges lie against the marginal portions ofthe ceiling or wall around the opening in which the diffuser is mounted.

The wall 7 forms with lateral wall 11 and parallel wall 12 an elongatedchannel 13 opening upwardly. Air conductors or adapters (not shown),which connect the air supply duct (not shown) and diffuser, may bemounted in the channels 13. The lower surface of wall 11 and the uppersurface of flange 10 have longitudinally-extending lips 14, 15, 16 and17. The lip pairs 14, 15 and 16, 17 form longitudinal grooves in whichmay be seated the opposite edges of diffuser mounting plates 18, 19, to

which may be attached clips or brackets (not shown),

which, in turn, are attached to hangers in the case of suspendedceilings or structural members of the ceiling or wall itself. Also, incase the diffuser layout calls for two or more abutted, aligned diffusersections like that of PEG. 1, the plates 18, 19 may extend betweenabutted diffuser sections to provide proper alignment between abuttedsections.

The center section 6 of the diffuser is an extruded, hollow section madeof a top wall 20, a bottom wall 21, and side walls 22, 23. The sidewalls 22, 23 have a circular, concavely-curved wall segment 24, 25,respective ly. Curved wall segment 24 has'substantially the same radiusand center of curvature as concave wall segment 9 of the section 4, andcurved wall segment 25 has a k 3 similar relationship to concave Wallsegment 9 ot section 'thereby defining a pair of substantiallycylindrical, elongated air'passage channels 26, 27.

Each substantially cylindrical passage 26, 27 has an air patterncontroller or damper 2t 29, each of which comprises a cylindrical rod 36and an elongated plate 31 extending radially therefrom. The rod 3t! maybe located substantially at the radial center of the cylindricalpassages 2-6, 27, whereby the air pattern controllers 28, 29 may havepivot axes substantiallycommon with the longitudinal axes of cylindricalpassages 2s, 27. The radial outer edges of plates 31 extend slightlybeyond the inner faces of walls 9, 24 and 25, and the air controllers28, 29

are pivotable between the upstream portions of wall pairs 9, 24, and 9,25. These walls may have oltsets 33 forming limit shoulders 34 formingstops, against which the edges 32 of the controller abut.

The ends 35 of rods 36} may be pivotally supported in end Walls 36, 37of the difiuser, which, in turn, are attached to the ends of sections 4,5 and 6 to provide a unitary structure. When theair controller 28 and/or 2? is of a length whereby itneeds intermediate support againstbowing, any suitable support may be provided along the length of the aircontroller 23 and/or 29, as 1 needed.

When air is supplied through the upstream side ot the a diffuser, itenters channels 26, 27 between lips 42,43, 44 and 45, and it may bedeflected into several patterns-4e pending on the position of the airpattern controllers 28, 29. When the controller is rotated'to one sideor the other of the passage, e.g;, as shown in the channel 27 of 2, theair stream is defiected'against the curved wall of the opposite side ofthe channel. It flows in a curved" path through the channel andis'discharged from the slot in a laterally outward stream. The lips 46,47, 48 and 49 formed by the downstream edges of curved walls act as airflow directing or deflecting surfaces to direct or deflect the airstreamlaterally outwardly as it exits from the slotto provide a horizontaldischarge pattern. 1

When'the 'air pattern controller does not block oft" either side of thecylindrical air flow channel, e.g., the

'position of controller 28 inthe channel of FIG. 2, the

air fiows through the whole cross-section of the channel.

-The opposing lips 46, 47 deflect the air stream toward the center andthereby counteract each other. The result is a vertical discharge streamsubstantially at. right angles to the face of the diffuser. For optimumresults,

inner edges of lips 42, 43, 44, 45, is of a widthabout the same as orless than the width of the respective slots 2, 3.

FIG. 2 shows for purposes of illustration a combination verticalpattern, horizontal pattern. An opposite, two-way,.horizontal patternmay be achieved by setting the vane controllers inthe position shown inFIG. 6, i.e.,

V with the controllers 28, 29 resting on shoulders 34 of the walls 9 ofsections 4 and 5'. e

The embodiment of FIG. 7 is like that of FIGS. 16,

except that the side walls'Si), 51, 52, 53 of channels 26, 27 1 is madefrom members like diffuser sections 4 and 5 of FIGS. 1-6. The singleslot difiuser functions similarly to the difiuser portion provided byone of the channels '26 or 27, and again like numerals designate likeparts. FIG. 8 shows a mounting bracket or clip 58 attached to themounting plates 18, 19, the latter, in turn, adapted tobe attached toceiling members 59, 60 or hanger support rods, wires, etc, (not shown).

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two embodiments for connection of the slotdifiusers with air supply ducts. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the airsupply duct is a substantially cylindrical duct 61 made of moldedFiberglas or other sound-deadening or sound-insulating material. The

molded Fiberglas duct 61 has a longitudinal slot along one side thereofformed between the pointed tips 62, 63 of the cylindrical wall oftheduct 61. The longitudinal opening in the duct 61 is in alignment andcommunication with the air passage through the slot diffuser.

The duct 61 is mounted on the upper side of the slot diffuser by meansof duct fastener elements comprising elongated plate pairs 64, 67. Theplate 64 fits against the inner side of the duct 61 and comprises anelongated metal plate 65 lying substantially fiat against the inner sideof duct er and an elonagtedplate 66 seated in the slot 13 and lyingagainst the vertical Wall 8.

The element 67' comprises an elongated plate 68 lying against the outer,underside of the duct 61, an elongated plate 69 fittingagainst the plate66 and a horizontal lip or flange 70, the outermost edge of which seatsagainst the inner side of the wall 12. The two fastener elements 64, 67hold the tapered tip 62, 63 of the duct 61 therebetween and alsofunction as the support legs or feet which Y seat in the channels 13.The difiuser-duct combination so provided is one in which the elongated,substantially continuous air passage through the difi'user is suppliedwith air from the duct 61 substantially along its length by virtue ofthe longitudinal slot provided in the duct 61.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the air is supplied throught a conventionaltype metal duct, i.e., one of rectangular cross-section. The inner wallof the duct 71 may be lined with sound-insulating or sound-deadeningmaterial, if desired. The lower wall 72 of the duct 71 has alongitudinal opening extending the length thereof, said opening beingdefined by downwardly-depending 'walls 73, 74. The lower ends of thewalls 73, 74 are I provided with a reverse bend segment 75, 76,respectively, the latter providingwith the lower portions of the walls73, 74 duct support elements which seat in the channels 13 of thedifiuser. The duct-diffuser combination of FIG, 5 also provides acombination wherein air from the duct 71 is fed through the slotdilfusersubstantially the upstream opening of channels 26, 27, definedby the throughout the length thereof through the opening provided bywalls 73, 74. a

It is through that the invention'and its numerous attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it isobviousv that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of theseveral parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: 1. A slot dififu'sercomprising spaved, oppositely disposed elongated side walls definingtherebetween an air flow channel, the'downstream edge of each of saidwalls having an inwardly directed lip, said lips defining there-'between an elongated air discharge slot, an elongated vane memberextending longitudinally in said channel upstream from said lips, meansrotatably supporting said vane in said channel with its pivot axisextending longitudinally of said channel and substantially mid-Waybetween said elongated walls, said vane member extending toward theupstream side of said channel and having a 1 width sutricient to bepivotable into contact with an upstream portion of either of the sidewalls of said channel in an upward and outward orientation whereby saidvane member is adapted to be swung between extreme positions against therespective sidewalls for blocking olt air flow through said channelalong one of said side walls and for deflecting air against the other ofsaid side walls 'as well as positionsintermediate said extremepositions.

2. A slot diffuser as claimed in claim lwherein said 3,183,821 5 6 sidewalls of said channel are concavely curved, said pivot References Citedby the Examiner axis is substantially at the radius centers of saidconcavely UNITED STATES PATENTS curved side walls, and said lips are thedownstream portions of said concavely curved side walls. 2833823 242; 5Y ggjg avi son 3. A slot difiuser as claimed in claim 1 Wherem 1d 53,126,811 3/64 Kennedy side walls of said channel are planar,substantially parallel Walls. ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

1. A SLOT DIFFUSER COMPRISING SPACED, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ELONGATED SIDEWALLS DEFINING THEREBETWEEN AN AIR FLOW CHANNEL, THE DOWNSTREAM EDGE OFEACH OF SAID WALLS HAVING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED LIP, SAID LIPS DEFININGTHEREBETWEEN AN ELONGATED AIR DISCHARGE SLOT, AN ELONGATED VANE MEMBEREXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID CHANNEL UPSTREAM FROM SAID LIPS, MEANSROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID VANE IN SAID CHANNEL WITH ITS PIVOT AXISEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CHANNEL AND SUBSTANTIALLY MID-WAYBETWEEN SAID ELONGATED WALLS, SAID VANE MEMBER EXTENDING TOWARD THEUPSTREAM SIDE OF SAID CHANNEL AND HAVING A WIDTH SUFFICIENT TO BEPIVOTABLE INTO CONTACT WITH AN UPSTREAM PORTION OF EITHER OF THE SIDEWALLS OF SAID CHANNEL IN AN UPWARD AND OUTWARD ORIENTATION WHEREBY SAIDVANE